A week before we fly. It's not the cabin pressure but the dry recirculated air that harms the eye so a prescription for lubricating drops has been provided. The wars in Ukraine and the Middle East mean that the British Airways flight has to weave a complicated path through unfriendly airspace around Crimea and Syria. Russian airspace is of course blocked. The direct distance from London to Tokyo is just under 6,000 miles but the actual flight now covers a whopping 8,800 miles. Going, it takes 14 hours. Coming back it's nearly 16. That's a long time to be sitting still.
Although the dunes have been washed away the root structures of the marram grass are still visible stretching out into the sand . This shows just how much of the coast has been eroded since the autumn storms.
This morning the beach covered in razor clams. This is really quite a remarkable sight. Dogs out for a morning walk discover they make an intriguing 'cracking' noise as they run over the clams.
Gulls. Tens of thousands and possibly hundreds of thousands of them snacking away happily on the razor clams. Every so often the high tide, much to the seabirds delight, will bring in a 'surprise ' like this.
A leaflet advertising a rail trip to Blackpool is dropped in the letter box. For £395 ( + £50 extra for a window seat supplement ) a traveler can sit at a table 'laid with crisp linen and fully dressed with fine crockery, fresh flowers and glassware. Settle into your seat with a glass of chilled Buck's Fizz followed by a full English breakfast and late morning tea/coffee served with pastries prior to the arrival at our destination'.
A cheaper 'First Class' option is available. For £195 ( plus the £50 window seat supplement ) you can enjoy the same journey but with the option to bring your own picnic hamper and drinks for consumption during the journey'. There is something very 1930's about the idea of a railway journey with enthusiastic voyagers lunching from wicker picnic hampers. The reality may be one of Tupperware, paper plates and sticky fingers.
Have just started this book which a friend in DC has recommended.
12 comments:
When we go to New Zealand next year we're planning to fly from the UK via Vancouver to avoid the issue. Our daughter, coming back for a visit this summer, is flying via Beijing on a Chinese airline, and having just looked at the route on Flight Radar I see that will go over Russia.
Did you know that eye drops for dry eyes are available free in chemists (I don't like the imported "pharmacy") under the (here I have to use it) Pharmacy First scheme? The NHS hospital where I'll be having my eye surgery told me to put in drops for 4 weeks before the operation. No prescription was issued - I just pitched up at the chemist, said I'd been told I needed eye drops,and they handed it over. Unless your surgeon has prescribed something super specialised, you might save some money by going down this route. Private hospitals do tend to charge for the very air you breathe!
Linsa - What is stocked in chemists seems to be a lottery here. Perhaps it's a small town thing ?
It has become a very long flight indeed. My husband and my daughter have been going back and forth every few months, and we've been experimenting with different strategies as they are both very susceptible to jet lag.
My desire to see Japan, in tempered by the long flight. A friend is on an around the world cruise, now longer with a trip around Africa rather than through the canal.
Alexei Navalny has died in prison.
That's a long flight indeed. I'm sure you'll go equipped with a good book or several.
I've never seen such a proliferation of razor shells before - I wonder what's the cause?
Cheers, Gail.
PS Just heard the news about Alexei Navalny. Tragic but, I'm afraid, not a surprise.
Jake of Florida - To have returned to Russia rather than stay in safety in Berlin marks him out as a true hero.
Yes.
You and the Font seem to have no shortage of books. Hopefully your flights won't be too full. I agree that Navalny is a true hero.
Years ago had a wonderful footplate ride on a Deltic loco from Settle to Carlisle. Worth the supplement for a window seat.
14 and 16 hours are a very long time to sit still, but perhaps BA will arrange a few in-flight leg stretching exercises en route. The logistics for such a long non-stop flight are mind boggling. That sort of distance is one I would prefer to do in stages but with so much hostility in the world it may soon be impossible to even reach.
Angus - re the small town thing. I'm in a village of 1200 souls, and I think the chemist has 2 sorts of eye drops for dry eyes. They are very good about ordering something for the next day if they don't have it in stock, so you could always ask.
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